iPhone 11 screen scratches

This is somewhat consistent with what I experience. There’s no Apple store around me at the moment, so I’ll have to wait till I travel to a place that has to have them checked out, but I do have an open case with Apple support. I tried cleaning the said scratch with a little bit of toothpaste, no dice.

Looks like this is a real issue affecting the iPhone 11 Pro? Anyone having the 11 with this issue?

@rbrylawski

I have read many of your posts in this thread, you really got your facts wrong.

1. Like many have said here, iphone screens have gone softer and softer over the years in each new realease. Older Iphone screens were much more durable. And oh please stop saying it is more shatter proof so it is good. Firstly there is no definitive evidence that it is more shatter proof than previous and other glasses. Secondly it is questionable that we really need to make this sacrifice, many of us still got old iphones that are intact and scratch free, meanwhile newer iphone screens are getting ruined by scratches so fast before even getting dropped once! It is not even a valid trade-off.
2. Iphones glass are custom made for apple, they are not standard Gorilla Glass. Gorilla Glass is much much more scratch resistant. And YES! Compared to the level of softness of the newer iphone screens, Samsung phones really don't scratch. I've had a samsung note 9 for a year, didn't really like it and definitely did not baby it at all, it got tossed around all the time and the screen do not have any scratch. Why? Because it is a different glass!
3. Screen protectors aren't a solution. They are just a distraction to the real problem. In fact I think it is stupid to put on another piece of glass on your $1k phone. They ruin the excellent design and feeling in the hand, which you paid for with your $1k.

[Edited by Moderator]

The same happened to my iPhone Pro. I just got it yesterday and kept it in a pocket with nothing else. Less than a day later and there's already a scratch. I didn't have this problem with the iPhone X.

Domdodo wrote:

It's called shoot the messenger. "You're holding it wrong."

People love to bring that up, but tests with that phone at the time showed that other phones when held directly over the antenna suffered the same drop offs in signal, so people indeed were "holding it wrong."

Apple offered free cases in that case to minimize the issue.

The bottom line is something contacted the screens in these cases and scratched the glass.

Regardless of whether it "should have" scratched, it was something sharp or abrasive contacting an unprotected screen.

With apologies to Jimmy Webb, if you bake a cake and leave it outside for a moment and it rains on it, you haven't done anything in particular to damage it, but you have allowed it to become damaged through your actions.

To make a long story short:

• If your screen is scratched and you are unhappy about it, take your phone to an Apple Store and have them look at it to see if they will replace it under warranty. They may or may not.

• If you are purchasing a new phone and want to avoid the possibility of damaging the screen, purchase a screen protector. Depending upon the model you choose it won't be more than $20 - $30 and if purchasing one of the Belkin protectors at an Apple Store, the staff will apply the protector for you.

• The only way Apple will find that any phones are "defective" will be after analyzing phones serviced in the first step above. Apple has been very good about reimbursing people for past repairs if they find an issue is indeed a defect.

• My purpose here has been to provide users with facts about their device, the state of glass production in the industry, and the physical fact that stronger glass is less scratch-resistant. If you believe that is not true, design your own glass and put Corning out of business,

If you are upset with Apple and are within 14 days of purchase, return your phone for a refund and buy something else.

IdrisSeabright wrote:

And where did rbrylawski say that he knew for certain that people were replacing screens or not?

Here:

rbrylawski wrote:

But since Apple has clearly taken the position that scratching one's screen is accidental damage and is not replacing people's screens, even in hindsight, it make sense to put a screen protector on one's phone after the fact to avoid further scratches. Otherwise, the chorus of protests on this thread isn't being read by Apple as Apple isn't on this forum (except the Forum Hosts who read posts for violation of TOU, which is why posts are removed).

Why is there a constant need to keep stating the same thing over and over again? You're not helping anyone; quite the opposite.

• "Just get a screen protector."

No, we shouldn't have to.

• "Apple isn't reading this thread."

Clearly, Apple is. https://discussions.apple.com/terms

6. Apple involvement. Apple may respond to questions but does not formally provide technical support on the Site. Any information that is provided by Apple or Apple employees is offered on an "AS IS" basis without warranties of any kind.

soccerdad33 wrote:

Regardless of what the "Apple Protector" of this thread states, this issue is specific only to the iPhone 11.

• iPhone X screens scratch very easily - Apple Community
• iPhone XS screen prone to scratching ? - Apple Community
• XR screen scratches easily - Apple Community
• Does the iphone 12 scratch easily? - Apple Community

The Verge: WHY YOUR BRAND-NEW SMARTPHONE WILL SCRATCH JUST AS EASILY AS YOUR OLD ONE

Mine’s more like a finger smear, but doesn’t go away. It’s more disturbing than a scratch.

There are several posts I found related to this too. I contacted support which suggested a physical check of the device. But not sure what the solution would be.

I have used the iPhone since the first generation. I never install any screen protector, and I never had any serious scratch whatsoever. This is the first time I experience something like this.

I have a legit crack/scratch in my screen that showed up out of nowhere. No drop, no incident... but I can feel it with my nail, but its not a crack in the sense that it’s emanated out or any spider webs. Just a small line-chunk out of the front facing glass, along with a separate small chunk missing a few millimeters away. Truly almost seems like a defect in the manufacturing to have appeared after 24 hours of use without incident.

I have the same issue as well. The screen feels like it can get scratches or smears when not even in contact with sharp or rough surfaces. Never had this issue with previous generation iPhones. Not impressed.

Haven’t experienced anything like you all are showing on any of the devices we have (an 11 and 2 11 Pro Max) but to be fair we do always put the cheap screen protectors on every device regardless (not the glass screen protectors...). Some of the pics look like something gouged they screen although I know you all are saying nothing touched them. The permanent fingerprint looking ones are real mysterious. What has Apple said about these if you were able to take it in to show them. Sorry if I missed the info on that if you already said so.

My iPhone 11 looks worse after 1 week than my iPhone 7 did after 3 years. I’ll be going to my Apple store and complaining. I haven’t bought AppleCare yet but might have to at this rate. :(

FWIW, it doesn’t take sharp or metallic objects to cause scratches. Simple normal usage or pockets, setting on tables, etc.

Not to diminish what any of you are experiencing but every year the same things seem to be echoed. There will be people that say their phone shows scratches/nicks inexplicably and that there must be a defect because previous models did it do it. And that may be true for them but there is always at least one thread posted echoing the same complaint. Only thing that can be suggested besides the obvious (even though not loved by those that hate doing it...that’s using a screen protector of some sort and/or a case) would be to report it to Apple and determine if it’s really a defect or just bad luck. For those that are near an Apple store and feel like it’s a defect should go there and let them see the device and observe how the screen looks and then while there replicate the issue. If the screen is truly faulty it should be easy to make a new scratch/smudge/scrap appear if the only thing that caused it before was putting it into an empty pocket for example. Makes it difficult for them to not be willing to replace the device if you can show the issue happens. Probably not what anyone wants to hear but being able to show evidence absolutely helps more than showing damage after the fact and wanting them to believe the damage happened out of nowhere. Not saying any of you are lying but imagine how many people do or would claim scratches they know they created by being careless occurred out of nowhere.

I would be frustrated if it happened to me no doubt but I’ve been very fortunate. Never had a scratched screen or cracks on any iPhone. Yes I’ve dropped them countless times, tossed them with abandon, etc but I’ve also always used a screen protector (always cheap ones) and a case...usually an Otterbox Strada but I do so because I know that I always plan to sell my device and by taking these measures my iPhones have always looked like new making get top dollar (far more than any of these trade in offers ever give). Usually the first week or two has me using a cheap case to hold me over while I wait for the Strada or this time the Nomad folio to arrive while keeping a trimmed down version of the plastic that comes on the iPhone in place until my cheap $5.99 3 pack arrives from Amazon in place to keep the screen pretty safe. I say all of this to say that I have been pretty lucky to not have an issue on any of my iPhones or the others in my home (iPhone 11 product red and 2 iPhone 11 pro gold)...although I did have a mini scare when I dropped a thick heavy palette corner down directly on my iPhone 11 pro Max gouging the plastic and making me terrified that I had taken a chunk out of the screen. Thankfully no damage to the screen. No scratch or anything. That was pure luck because it absolutely should have had some significant damage if not a full fledge shatter. Definitely made me think long and hard about adding AppleCare+ immediately 😂

Hope you all are able to get some assistance with the scratches but if not...consider a screen protector at minimum. The cheap ones I use don’t alter the feel of the screen at all. Again, I get these not so much for concerns about cracks but to ensure the screen doesn’t get surface scratches solely for preservation of resell value.

Basic scratch resistance is fundamental to a touch screen display. I have never put any screen protector on my iPhones, the same way I never did with the windscreen on my car. Because they never needed it. This early behaviour in these iPhones 11 is a bit alarming. This discussion thread here is to discover whether and if this is a common problem (isolated, or not) and what is the solution. Hiding the flaw with screen protector is not a solution, but a choice one can make after the fact.

hello all.

we have got the same problem as well. I bought two iphone pro 11 max both for myself and my wife and just after 36 hours here how phone is scratched easily by daily use. (no special bad treatment of course)

we have used iphone 5, 6, 8, macbook, ipad air, ipad air 2, ipad pro and we have never used screen protector so far but here we are. so disappointed.

please go this website and show your reaction if you have the same issue.

see something? say something!

https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

peaces from istanbul, turkey

If it's (actually) only the second day and you have an Apple Store close to you book an appointment, even if you don't go thru with a fix, having the issue documented will help you.

Keep notes including: date & time, who helped you and their position, and what transpired.

Although the paid AppleCare does allocate you more attention all iPhones come with 1 year of hardware coverage.

If it turns out that the screen is fundamentally flawed your visits and documentation will catapult you to a better resolution/replacement.

This being said I really recommend AppleCare+

If you are in the US you can get it within the first 60 days.

$29 for screen related repairs!

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Links

https://getsupport.apple.com/

https://www.apple.com/support/products/iphone/